Thursday, February 19, 2015

"Seventeen year-old Jonas Norton is trying to come to terms with what his blood disorder has robbed from him, including his two most favorite things: basketball, and competing in Hatchet Racket, Wanless’ annual hatchet-throwing contest. The facts that his father works constantly to pay for his blood tests and Jonas can actually see the disappointment in his eyes for being such a failure only make matters worse. And even worse than all of that? Jonas' own twin brother, Micah, is perfectly healthy and becoming quite the basketball player. Also, Hattie, the girl Jonas has loved for forever? She has no idea how he feels.

Sixteen year-old Hattie Akerman lives down the hill from Jonas. Though her father, Heath, tries to hide his lack of mental clarity behind the bottle and she's pretty much given up on having any kind of relationship with him, she would still rather her younger sister, Lucy, not have to deal with the consequences of his behavior. Hattie helps her mother by baking food to sell at Market and looking out for Lucy. No matter what the rest of the town says about her crazy father, Jonas sticks up for them. He is, by far, her very best friend.

As if things aren’t complicated enough already, Heath and Micah are unexpectedly drafted into President Kendrick's army (an army from which no one ever returns) just days before Thanksgiving. When Heath disappears instead of arriving at the Meeting Place to check in, Hattie and Jonas decide they’ve had enough, and take matters into their own hands. And though nothing could have prepared them for what happens next, Hattie and Jonas learn that hope can be seen in every situation. You just have to know where to look."

Okay, guys. I started this on New Year's Day with less than 2 hours of sleep. That was a bad, bad idea. I still don't know what happened in the first 6% of the book which may actually explain a lot of my confusion for the first half. I probably missed important points under that hallucination of a day. It gives me a headache just thinking about it...

But anyway, that is not a good way to start off a book. I was such of a confused mess for about a month that couldn't get into it. It frustrated the crap out of me. But after reading what it was about a few times on Goodreads, I finally got into it.

Not too much happens in the beginning, but I loved Jonas. He reminded me so much of myself that it wasn't even funny. I just wanted to hug him. I feel like he's on the list of my fictional brothers.

Also the whole beginning involved me almost murdering Micah because he was being a little jerk. I now know/understand his feelings (because of the ending), but I still kinda want to hurt him.

Also, random side note. I have a very love/hate relationship with book that switch POVs. I just kept thinking Jonas was Hattie and Hattie was Jonas and it was a mess. That could have been part of the reason it took me so long to get into it. I'd just read thinking Jonas was talking, but then Jonas would be addressed by name, and I'd realize oh wait! and I'd have to reread the chapter...just like Allegiant! Pay attention, guys. It'll help. I promise.

Yes, but then things happened! Drafts and fights and arguing and disappearances! It was exciting!

And then they went on a journey! Although I'm not gonna tell ya what they were looking for...but Hattie and Jonas bonded. I-I ship them so hard. And they're both idiots who don't realize how much they secretly love each other AND I JUST WANT THEM TO BE A THING.

But guys, the end. I got really really worried. And not because I was in a car in the middle of a blizzard an hour from home with my sister and brother-in-law. It did make the situation more worrisome though. But ice...will be the downfall to everything. (Titanic, my wrist, the car trip, this book, you get the point)

And the end end. Ummm...I love Jonas, but I debated strangling him. I know it's all meaningful and heartfelt and he's helping, but NO. MADI DOES NOT APPROVE. I love him, and I ship Jattie? (is that a thing? Idk), and I don't want my ship to die because of a certain person.

Oh! I forgot about Jonas and his dad's sweet little moment. I loved it. I cried. It like inspired me and hit me so hard in the heart. Like Jonas and I are so similar and that made me feel so good. And no one will ever understand my love for dad/grandpa moments in movies/books. They kill me.

But even though it took forever for me to get into this lovely book, the ending just killed me. Y'all should go read it and Jessica's other books. They are absolutely amazing! (As is she!)

I hope all of you have a fabulous day! It was a pleasurable day that's so cold that we didn't have school, so I wrote ya two book reviews! I love ya, guys! Thanks for reading!

At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old traveler Bree Bennis excels...at screwing up.
After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn't go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he's in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn't think he's a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.
Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues-a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium-that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self. But when those closet to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.

So before I start, shoutout to Jessica Brooks! This lovely lady sent me Loop for Christmas! Go check out her blog here, and you all should totally read her books! (I'm doing a review on Pity Isn't an Option as soon as I finish retyping this one!)

This book though. The cover the time travel and romance. The everything about it. I was dying to read it since Jessica sent it to me. Life intervened, and I've only just gotten to it. But gosh dang, I love everything about it.

The book started out wonderful. Karen slowly brought you into the 23rd century world of Shifters. I get scared with books like these because new futuristic time travelly worlds can be super confusing. But she slowly explained the world to us through Finn and experiences. I understood the world pretty perfectly. I want to be a Shifter though...

Honesty time. I totally fell for Wyck *at first* I probably should have hated him, but I was drawn to him. I shipped him and Bree. I wanted them to be together so bad.

But then...Finn showed up. I guess technically Bree showed up in Finn's world, but I could just tell something awesome was gonna happen between them. I think if an author uses the name Finn that character has to be all nice and sweet and attractive it all just comes with the name. (Like in the Impossible Knife of Memory, Finn was perfect!) Maybe I'll name my son Finn...that'll make him awesome, right?

So so so so much happened in this book. Like SO much. I'm not even going to begin to explain it to you. I'll just ruin everything and accidentally spoil it. But guys, I couldn't stop reading it. It took forever to get through it because school hates me when I'm reading a good book, but every spare moment in class, I read. My teachers probably hated me. I was legit constantly reading.

One night I had some extra time, so I sat down to finish it NO MATTER WHAT. So much happened. The end was amazing. It all just came together. Like almost the entire plot was solved within a chapter or two. It was fantabulous. There's still so much to think about though. There's a huge plot twist with Finn btw.

I forget what I was using this gif for, but I remember I said that something provoked me to laugh insanely at midnight and my parents probably thought I was going insane. Although all of the stupid little jokes and cute things like pegamoos and historical references. They killed me. I'm such a nerd, but understanding them made me proud/happy.

BUT WAIT, in the epilogue you find out who Muffy Van Sloot is which ugh...I fangirled so hard during that.

I can't read wait to read more Bree and Finn, guys. (Especially because of the last line in the epilogue) You all should hurry up and read Loop, so we can read Twist together when it comes out on March 31! I can't wait! Go buy them! *makes best attempt at a glare*

Thanks again to Jessica for sending me Loop! *blows kiss* And thank ya to everyone who read this review. You're all lovely, and I love every one of you!

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Thank you to Tiffany Collier for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The summary Tiffany sent me:

It's a contemporary YA Lit novel, told by a twenty-year-old girl that graduates from college early, lies on her resume and gets mistakenly hired at an all boys' school. She shows up "like a big, girly surprise" and chaos ensues.

As soon as I read this summary, I was quite enthralled. Normally I'd just quietly read a book like this while not telling anyone because people are judgmental. I have a secret desire to read forbidden (slightly creepy) relationships. I feel like I shouldn't read books like that, but really? Who doesn't need a bit of secretive reading?

However Alex Rogers got through the process of actually getting the job and staying at the school, I'm still not completely sure. I'm also not sure why everyone including the staff, students, and parents took her gender so well, but whatever! It was awesome and weird and made me happy because I love books like these even if I don't like to admit it to random people in fear of judgement.

SIDE STORY: Today my friend asked me what I'd do differently if no one judged me. I officially decided I'd read whatever kind of book I want in public with pride. ANYWAY

Alex was actually a pretty awesome protagonist. She made me smile, and I just wanted her to be happy in life. Plus her fear of telephones is golden. I really just wanted to be her friend.

As much as I knew I should NOT ship Alex and Taylor (they need a ship name), I did. I shipped them so hard. Taylor makes people happy. I wanted Alex to be happy. If Taylor is with Alex, then she'll be happy. (As simple as geometry class!)

Alex tried so hard too. She was actually attempting to follow the rules and not get herself into certain circumstances with the guys. Like there is NO woman whatsoever here. There was something bound to happen. There wasn't even like a teenage girls' school a few miles away or anything! It was crazy!

And Kuvy. Ugh. He just makes me mad. I wanted to strangle him so badly! He was such an a-hole. He made me super, super, super angry.

So all was well after/before some certain points. I was scared to death that Taylor and Alex were going to get into a predicament, and they'd get caught. And then bad things would happen. It was a stressful situation.

Like I was SO freaking paranoid. I was reading on the middle of my kitchen table while my dad took out our dishwasher. He seriously almost electrocuted himself. My reaction was very delayed because of this book. He just screamed, "Ouch!" And about 10 seconds later, I realized something happened, but it took another minute to comprehend everything because all that was on my mind was Taylor Matthews. It was a major issue.

Oh and then later, he touched the wires together (don't ask me why). There was a huge spark explosion thing. He screamed. I jumped. I almost dropped my iPod which I was reading on. It was terrible. Then I was a paranoid mess between the possibility of Taylor and Alex being caught and the possibility of my father getting electrocuted. It was a slightly terrible experience, but I still devoured the book with my sleep deprivation and fears.

So after my heart stopped freaking out, my parents went to my sister's house. I was home alone to do my homework. Of course, reading this book was a better choice. I sat upon my bed non-stop reading because I just had to know what was going to happen.

I was overall freaking out. On a roller coaster of emotions.

I was very, very close to crying.

Then I just reached a freaking out zone again. It was really close to the end. I couldn't talk myself into getting up and ranting, so I just sat there, shaking back and forth talking to myself.

I reached the end.

I...uh...was home alone. No one to rant to. I just ran about my house, screaming to my cats about everything that happened. I was quite angry. It was kinda dangerous. It's probably better no one was home.

But seriously. That ending I didn't see coming. The beginning was interesting but a tad slow. BUT you must stick around because you'll be reading quickly in anticipation and anger. I read it really quickly. It started out with curiosity. Then to anticipation. Paranoia. Anger. Sadness. Paranoia. Anger. Confusion. Sadness. Paranoia. Paranoia. Anger. Confusion. Sadness. Worry. Anger. Freaking out a lot.
Like once you hit a certain point. There was just so much you wanted to know. You couldn't stop reading.

It was stressful. I couldn't stop, but if I would have, I couldn't have accomplished anything. I was too busy worrying about all of this fictional character drama! Seriously guys, read this book. You'll devour it.

Girl at a Boys' School will be released on March 1st. It will be available on Amazon as an eBook!
Seriously read it when it comes out, you won't regret it. You may even develop a thing for wrestlers! (I did.)

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Thank you to Kari Lynn for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Starting off, I did not read the summary of Just Breathe that is on Goodreads, Amazon, etc. I had absolutely no clue what I was getting into. Like at all. Let's be honest now, I thought this book was contemporary YA based off the first chapter or so. I quickly learned this about the book:

So Ashlyn and Katie came in to the picture. I loved them as secondary characters. I'd kill for them to be my best friends, like really, it'd be absolutely fabulous. They were just always there for Keira and happy and like this:

So basically I love them.
Then David showed up. He was beautiful. He also ruined the slightly awkward incest ship I had going on with Keira and Justen. Thanks, David. Anyway I very much so welcomed David into my life.

I then began to not trust him. Keep in mind I had no clue this wasn't completely contemporary. I thought he was hurting her somehow purposely and judging her for her anxiety attacks.

But then some things happened that I'd talk about if you read the book, but I'm not the spoilers type of girl. I'd suggest you all read this book if you're into this whole paranormally contemporary stuff. I also would suggest reading it if you'd like to gain another fictional boyfriend (named David). This will basically be you by the end:

Well and there's a slight plot twist cliffhanger thing at the end that throws a wrench in everything, but shhhh...
Realistically this was not my favorite book. I liked it a lot, but I'd give it about 3.5-4 stars.
Two things that drove me absurd though:
1. The lack of contractions. It felt unnatural. Unless it's just a western PA thing, we use a lot of contractions in our everyday conversations. It made their conversations feel strained and formal. I can understand not using a lot of them in David's side of the conversation, but ugh, it just annoyed the crap out of me sometimes.
2. I got confused a lot on how much time has passed/where they were. There aren't like separators to show you time has passed, so we may be at a new setting or whatever. I'd just get confused sometimes because I thought it was still "today" but it turned out to be a week later or whatever.
Neither of those things are a big deal though, they just bothered me a bit, but the plot was awesome, and I just wanted to know what happened and "who" David actually was the entire time. You don't get a choice; you just keep reading.

SO you guys should go read Kari Lynn's wonderful book because I personally loved it. She's awesome and deserves a ton of support from awesome readers like you all! Go buy it on kindle or whatever! *attempts to glare until you give in* Awesome!